The Smart car may catch more interest in the U.S. now that the ultra-compact car achieved the equivalent of an A+, (from the insurance institute for highway safety) in tests for front and side crashes. The jury is likely still out on how well Smart cars would hold up in crashes involving the large vehicles so common to American roads; these latest crash tests, however, show that the Smart car can at least hold its own against average to small vehicles.
How did the Smart Car Fortwo do so well in the crash tests? Much of that performance has to do with the special “safety cell” incorporated into this car. A hard steel frame is designed to disperse the force of a crash around a large area of the car. This helps prevent injury to the Smart car’s occupants because the energy of the impact is absorbed over a broader area.
Other Smart Car safety features (according to the official website, smart.com) include, but aren’t limited to, side airbags, full-size driver and passenger airbags, anti-lock brakes, anti-skid technology (called the Electronic Stability Program) and a collapsible steering column. Collapsible steering columns can help prevent the severe chest injuries drivers frequently receive during front-end collisions.
Despite all of the Smart Car safety features, I’d hate to see one of these little cars in an accident with an SUV.
Other Smart Car features include, of course, the usual features we’ve come to expect: passenger visor mirror, dome light, optional alarm. optional heated seats, etc.
Smart Car Price: The base price for a 2008 Smart Car Fortwo Coupe starts at only $11,590. This car is a good choice for those wanting a small car for running errands around town. The Smart Fortwo can be reserved on the Smart USA website (see the link at end of this article) for $99.
There are currently three styles of the Smart Fortwo: Pure Coupe, Passion Coupe and the Fortwo passion cabriolet. The Pure Coupe Smart car is the least expensive–but is as safe as the others. The Passion Cabriolet is a convertible and is pricier, starting at 16,590 (base price which does not include taxes etc.).
A very brief bit of Smart Car history:
The Smart Car concept was born to Daimler-Benz and SWATCH around 1993. Europeans are always looking for high-performing, yet compact, vehicles to ferry them through city and over hill. The Smart Car City-Coupe (which is very similar in style to the Fortwo coupe) caught on quickly there.
I will admit that I am a big fan of Mercedes Benz. That Daimler-Benz and SWATCH are behind the Smart car may bias my opinion towards this economy car. Mercedes-Benz has of course been long known for excellent craftsmanship. Also, I saw my first Smart car years ago in Europe and loved the unique design. I wished then that American buyers would take to the car eventually–but I had my doubts that that would ever occur.
I have nothing against an SUV, but in traffic-congested cities such as New York it would be great to see more vehicles like the Smart Fortwo Coupe. With a 3 cylinder engine and a top speed of 90 mph, the Smart car is not going to win you any races; this car can, however, get you from your house to the office with reasonable safety and style. The Smart car Fortwo may not be a Mercedes Benz SLK300 Roadster, but it is a cool car nonetheless.
Sources:
http://www.smartusa.com/is-the-smart-fortwo-car-safe.aspx
http://www.iihs.org/
http://www.smartusa.com/
